Vince Wilfork's pain felt by Willie

Willie McGinest doesn't claim to know all of the details of Vince Wilfork's situation with the Patriots. But the ongoing Wilfork contract saga brings back some painful memories for the former Pats linebacker.

Willie McGinest doesn't claim to know all of the details of Vince Wilfork's situation with the Patriots. But the ongoing Wilfork contract saga brings back some painful memories for the former Pats linebacker.

In some ways, McGinest can relate to Wilfork's plight, as Big Vince and the team are reportedly at odds over a proposed paycut to help gain salary cap relief. It's gotten to the point where the nose tackle reportedly asked to be released.

In 2006, McGinest, then a Patriots defensive captain and integral part of three Super Bowl championships, was essentially let go for salary cap reasons after 12 years with the team.

There were discussions about a new deal, but nothing materialized so McGinest left even though his hope was to remain in New England and retire a Patriot.

“I was a little bitter when I left, because I didn't want to leave,” McGinest told the Herald late Friday night after a hectic day of doing his analyst work for the NFL Network. “I was happy where I was. I was with a great group of guys. I was in a system I knew, I built a relationship with the fan base and the community. We were successful. It's always hard to leave something that's successful. The teammates I played with .?.?. I loved my guys. It's not something I wanted to do, but the situation dictated otherwise.”

McGinest, who wound up signing with Cleveland, and finished his career with the Browns, said time has added perspective and helped take away a lot of the sting. He doesn't look back on that period the way he once did.

“You gotta catch yourself, because you have to understand it's a business, too,” he said. “You get a little personal, a little emotional about it because of what you've invested with your relationships. I had a lot of respect for everyone in that organization, and a great love for everybody. But they have to approach it as a business, too. At some point, every player in the league has been faced with the same scenario. It doesn't matter if you're a Hall of Famer. Who would have ever thought Joe Montana would have left San Francisco and gone to Kansas City? Or Jerry Rice? Very few guys stay with one team an entire career.”

McGinest considers himself lucky for the time he spent in Foxboro, for the teammates and coaches he had while he was there.

“There were so many coaches I played for. One (Bill Parcells) is already in the Hall of Fame, Pete Carroll just won a Super Bowl, and I'm sure Bill Belichick, he'll be going into the Hall as well, so I was very fortunate as a player,” McGinest said. “So, I try to focus on those things, more than I did the negative things. I played with some great players, we won three Super Bowls, and went to four, in 12 years. How many guys can say that?”

Wilfork, a five-time Pro Bowl player as one of the best nose tackles in the game, has been a devoted foot soldier. He's also a captain and emotional leader in the locker room.

“His case, my case, every case is probably different,” McGinest said. “My deal was up. I had a ghost year with an inflated number that we put into the contract that we knew I wasn't going to make, just so we could tear the contract up and restructure. I had a three-year deal, and that was the fourth year. It was a high number, kind of like (Darrelle) Revis (that) they won't pay, but it's for cap purposes.

“I don't know what took place with (Wilfork), but you have to understand Vince is probably frustrated. He's coming off an injury. He's worked hard. He's one of the best at his position. Like all of us, when you're a Patriot, and you put in a lot of work, you feel like you're going to retire there. It's tough when they come to you and ask you to take a paycut.”

McGinest said just because he finished with the Browns — and if Wilfork similarly has to close out his career with another team — that shouldn't diminish their Patriots careers. McGinest holds out hope the situation will resolve.

“Vince has done everything the right way. Just because you won't retire somewhere you've been a long time doesn't mean it's not a happy ending,” McGinest said. “Who knows, this is all hypothetical. These guys will probably get together and hammer this out. The organization has a great love for Vince and his family. He's done a lot, and he's still a premier player.

“Now, he went through a severe injury, but he's still one of the best players in the league. They'll have a conversation. Both sides will come together and figure it out, and he'll do what's best. If Vince wants to stay, I'm sure they'll figure out a way to keep him a New England Patriot.

“If that's not the case, we'll have to see how it works out. But they love Vince, and they like having him there anchoring that defense. We'll see how it goes.”